Quick Summary
Choosing the right payroll and HR platform is critical, and Paycom, ADP, and Checkwriters take different approaches. In this guide, we break down their key features, pricing, and strengths, highlighting where each excels. While Paycom focuses on automation and ADP offers a vast system, Checkwriters offers a strong focus on compliance, dedicated support, and a user-friendly experience. If you need functionality with personalized service, our review will help you choose the best fit.
Looking for a Reliable HR and Payroll Solution?
Choosing the right payroll and HR solution is critical. Paycom, ADP, and Checkwriters each offer powerful tools, but their approaches differ.
In this Checkwriters review, we’ll compare these platforms head-to-head, highlighting where each excels and where they fall short. By the end, you’ll be able to decide which service best meets your needs.
Why Listen to Us?
At Checkwriters, we offer an all-in-one payroll and HR platform with features like applicant tracking, onboarding, attendance, and performance management.
For instance, one of our clients, Delaney House, a prominent hospitality group, enhanced its operations by leveraging our platform. This collaboration enabled Delaney House to streamline processes and focus more on delivering exceptional guest experiences.
What Is Paycom?
Paycom is an HR platform built around key functions like Payroll and employee self-service. It shifts administrative tasks to employees, reducing HR workload and errors. This model increases efficiency but requires employee engagement, making it best for companies with strong digital adoption.
Its Beti® system automates payroll by allowing employees to verify their pay before processing, cutting payroll corrections. This proactive approach minimizes compliance risks and payroll disputes. However, it demands user buy-in.
Paycom also lacks third-party integrations, making it best suited for companies with standardized HR needs.
Paycom centralizes all functions in a single system, ensures seamless data flow but limits flexibility for companies needing external software connections.
Paycom is a good all-in-one option for large companies that need a centralized system, but other businesses may find its reliance on employee engagement for payroll processing to be a challenge.
Key Features of Paycom
- Beti® (Employee-Driven Payroll): Automates payroll processing by allowing employees to verify and correct their own pay before submission. Reduces payroll errors, ensures compliance, and minimizes last-minute corrections.
- Time and Attendance: Tracks employee work hours through web and mobile clock-ins, biometric verification, and geofencing. It also helps ensure accurate payroll calculations and compliance with labor laws.
- Talent Acquisition: Manages the hiring process from job posting to onboarding. Integrates background checks, tax credit screening, and electronic document signing to streamline recruitment.
- Performance Management: Monitors employee goals, evaluations, and feedback. Automates performance review cycles and identifies trends in employee productivity and engagement.
- Learning Management System (LMS): Provides training modules, compliance courses, and certifications. Tracks employee progress and automates course assignments based on job roles.
- Benefits Administration: Simplifies enrollment and management of employee benefits. Allows employees to compare plans, update elections, and access benefits information digitally.
- Expense Management: Digitizes expense reporting by enabling employees to submit receipts and track reimbursements within the platform. Automates approvals and policy enforcement.
- HR and Compliance Tools: Maintains employee records, automates policy acknowledgment tracking, and ensures legal compliance through automated reporting and document management.
- Mobile App: Grants employees and managers access to payroll, time tracking, and HR functions. Supports real-time updates and self-service features for convenience.
Pricing
By now you’re probably wondering “how much does Paycom cost?”—Paycom offers customized pricing based on factors such as company size, selected features, and specific business needs. While exact pricing details are not publicly disclosed, estimates suggest that costs typically range from $25 to $36 per employee per month.
For example, a company with 100 employees might expect monthly fees between $2,500 and $3,600.
Paycom does not offer a free trial, so interested organizations should contact Paycom directly to schedule a demo and receive a personalized quote tailored to their specific requirements.
What We Like
- Employee Self-Service: Empowers employees to manage their own data, reducing administrative workload and increasing data accuracy.
- Comprehensive HR Solution: Offers a wide range of integrated features, including payroll, talent acquisition, and performance management, providing a unified platform for HR needs.
- User-Friendly Interface: Designed for ease of use, facilitating quick adoption and efficient navigation for both employees and administrators.
- Expense Management: Paycom’s “Expense Management” feature is significantly better than many competitors, allowing employees to submit receipts digitally and track reimbursements within the same platform. It streamlines approvals and policy enforcement, reducing manual processing for HR teams.
What We Don’t Like
- Limited Third-Party Integrations: Encourages an all-in-one approach, which may pose challenges for organizations requiring extensive integration with other systems.
- Learning Curve: Paycom has a steeper learning curve due to its complex features, requiring extensive training for users to fully use the platform’s capabilities.
- Premium Pricing: Considered a higher-priced option in the HRIS market, which may be a consideration for budget-conscious organizations.
What Is ADP?
ADP is a payroll and HR services provider offering solutions for businesses of all sizes, including global organizations. It combines payroll automation with compliance support, making it a strong choice for companies needing regulatory expertise alongside workforce management. It also provides insurance, retirement plans, and HR outsourcing (PEO) services.
Unlike newer platforms, ADP is designed for flexibility, supporting both small businesses and enterprises with modular add-ons. Its comprehensive features have made it a popular choice, reflected in its user ratings—ADP has a rating of 4.2 stars with 607 reviews—showcasing its reliability among businesses.
ADP Workforce Now, which is its cloud-based HCM platform that integrates payroll, HR, benefits, and compliance tools with automation and analytics, has a rating of 4.2 stars with 478 reviews, highlighting its reliability for mid-to-large businesses.
However, its broad scope can introduce complexity, requiring configuration to match specific needs.
ADP’s Professional Employer Organization (PEO) services set it apart, offering outsourced HR and benefits administration. This makes it ideal for organizations seeking full-service HR solutions rather than just software-based payroll management.
Key Features of ADP
- Payroll Processing: Automates payroll calculations, tax withholdings, and direct deposits. Supports multi-state and global payroll compliance, reducing manual errors and ensuring timely payments and accurate salary distribution.
- Tax Compliance: Handles tax filing, reporting, and compliance for federal, state, and local regulations. Provides automatic updates to tax rates and legal requirements, minimizing compliance risks.
- Time and Attendance: Tracks employee work hours, overtime, and leave balances. Integrates with payroll to ensure accurate pay calculations and compliance with labor laws.
- Benefits Administration: Manages employee benefits enrollment, eligibility tracking, and plan comparisons. Syncs with payroll to automate deductions and benefits reporting.
- Talent Management: Supports hiring, onboarding, and performance tracking. Offers applicant tracking, background checks, and employee development tools to streamline workforce management.
- HR and Compliance Services: Provides document management, policy tracking, and HR support. Helps businesses navigate complex labor laws and maintain regulatory compliance.
- Professional Employer Organization (PEO): Outsources HR functions, including payroll, benefits, and compliance. Ideal for businesses seeking a co-employment model to reduce HR workload and costs.
- Global Payroll Solutions: Supports international payroll processing in more than 140 countries with country-specific compliance tools. Helps multinational businesses manage payroll across different legal and tax jurisdictions.
- Mobile App: Gives employees access to payroll, benefits, and time tracking. Enables self-service features for updating personal information, viewing pay stubs, and requesting time off.
- Insurance & Retirement Services: Provides workers’ compensation, business and health insurance, and 401(k) plans.
- Custom Reporting & Analytics: Uses data from 42M+ employees to provide advanced workforce analytics and benchmarking.
Pricing
ADP offers several payroll and HR solutions tailored to different business sizes and needs. Pricing is customized based on factors like company size, selected features, and specific requirements. While exact pricing details are not publicly disclosed, estimates suggest that the Essential Plan starts at approximately $79 per month plus $4 per employee.
For small businesses, ADP provides the RUN Powered by ADP® platform, which offers multiple packages:
- Essential: Designed for startups and established companies that need basic payroll tools.
- Enhanced: Includes all features of the Essential plan, plus additional capabilities like state unemployment insurance management and background checks.
- Complete: Offers all features of the Enhanced plan, along with HR support tools such as employee handbook assistance and job description wizard.
- HR Pro: Provides all features of the Complete plan, plus enhanced HR support, including access to HR professionals and training modules.
ADP also offers a chat-based payroll app called Roll by ADP, priced at $39 per month plus $5 per employee, with a three-month free trial available.
For detailed pricing tailored to your organization’s needs, it’s recommended to contact ADP directly for a customized quote.
What We Like
- Scalability and Flexibility: ADP’s solutions accommodate organizations of various sizes, supporting growth and expansion. It also offers more flexibility than Paycom. While Paycom relies on a rigid, self-service model, ADP provides modular solutions that allow companies to choose only the features they need.
- Comprehensive Features: Offers a wide range of payroll and HR functionalities, including tax compliance, benefits administration, and time tracking.
- Integration Capabilities: Seamlessly integrates with more than 800 third-party applications, enhancing operational efficiency. For instance, ADP’s integration with ZipRecruiter simplifies recruitment by allowing businesses to post jobs and track applicants directly from the platform.
- User-Friendly Interface: Provides an intuitive platform that simplifies payroll and HR processes for users.
What We Don’t Like
- Additional Costs: Some features and services may incur extra charges, which can increase overall expenses.
- Customer Support Variability: Users have reported inconsistent experiences with customer service responsiveness.
- Complexity: The extensive feature set may be overwhelming for companies seeking straightforward solutions.
- Limited Customization: Some users find ADP’s interface outdated and customization options limited, making it less user-friendly for organizations that need adaptable solutions. But ADP has modernized its UI in Workforce Now.
A Reliable Alternative: Checkwriters
At Checkwriters, we simplify payroll and HR management while addressing common challenges seen in other platforms, such as overly complex systems and compliance risks.
Unlike larger providers, we prioritize personalized service, ensuring consistent and responsive customer support. Our clients access representatives quickly rather than navigating call center queues, reducing frustration and downtime.
Our intuitive, all-in-one system balances comprehensive features with ease of use. Our platform includes compliance-focused payroll, applicant tracking, onboarding, attendance management, and custom reporting to help organizations stay on top of workforce insights.
Small and mid-sized organizations can access payroll, benefits, and compliance tools without unnecessary complexity, making us a strong alternative to providers with overwhelming or rigid systems.
Key Features of Checkwriters
- Payroll Processing: Automates payroll calculations and direct deposits. Manages compliance with federal, state, and local tax regulations while reducing manual errors.
- Applicant Tracking: Streamlines hiring by managing job postings, applications, and candidate progress. Provides tools for reviewing resumes, scheduling interviews, and tracking hiring metrics.
- Onboarding: Digitizes new hire paperwork and training. Allows employees to complete documents electronically, ensuring a smooth transition into the organization.
- Time and Attendance: Tracks employee work hours, overtime, and leave balances. Integrates with payroll to ensure accurate compensation and manage compliance with labor laws.
- Compliance Support: Automates HR compliance tracking and reporting. Helps organizations stay aligned with labor laws, tax regulations, and workplace policies.
- Mobile Access: Grants employees and managers remote access to payroll, benefits, and time tracking. Enables self-service updates and document submissions from any device.
- Customer Support: Provides dedicated account representatives for personalized assistance. Eliminates reliance on automated phone systems, ensuring direct communication and faster issue resolution.
Pricing
We offer tailored pricing plans to accommodate the unique needs of each organization.
For precise pricing information, contact us directly to receive a customized quote that aligns with your business requirements. We do not offer a free trial period.
Why Choose Checkwriters?
1. Seamless User Experience
With a focus on usability, we eliminate common software frustrations, such as steep learning curves and cumbersome navigation.
Paycom relies on self-service payroll, which may require additional training. ADP’s broad range of tools can be overwhelming. At Checkwriters, we eliminate these issues by providing an intuitive interface, minimizing unnecessary complexity, and ensuring payroll accuracy without placing excessive responsibility on employees.
2. Dedicated Customer Support
We ensure consistent and personalized support with specialized, nimble teams based in our headquarters. In contrast, ADP and Paycom use various call centers, where wait times and agent changes can cause delays in resolving issues.
With us, organizations work with friendly experts who understand their specific needs. This eliminates the frustration of explaining issues repeatedly and ensures faster resolutions. Organizations that prioritize reliable and knowledgeable support may prefer our platform over larger, more impersonal providers.
3. Simplified, All-in-One System
We balance comprehensive HR and payroll features with usability. Unlike Paycom, which emphasizes self-service requiring extensive employee engagement, or ADP, which offers complex, modular solutions, we provide an intuitive, fully integrated system.
Our platform includes payroll, applicant tracking, onboarding, time management, and compliance tools in one cohesive experience. This eliminates the need for multiple software integrations, reducing administrative workload. Organizations seeking a functional but user-friendly platform benefit from our approach to seamless HR management.
4. Focus on Compliance and Accuracy
At Checkwriters, we prioritise compliance with labor laws and payroll regulations through HR policy tracking and accurate timekeeping.
While ADP offers compliance support, its broad client base means organizations may receive more generalized advice rather than tailored guidance. On the other hand, Paycom’s automated payroll relies on employee engagement, which can lead to errors if employees do not review their pay details properly.
We minimise such compliance risks by ensuring HR teams maintain control over payroll accuracy, making us a strong choice for organizations requiring precise regulatory adherence.
5. Personalized Experience for Mid-Sized Organizations
We are particularly suited for mid-sized organizations that need robust HR and payroll tools without enterprise-level complexity.
ADP caters to organizations of all sizes, but its larger scale means smaller clients may not receive the same level of attention. Meanwhile, Paycom is heavily automation-driven, making it best for tech-savvy teams.
At Checkwriters, we balance automation with direct support, ensuring mid-sized organizations receive both self-service functionality and hands-on assistance. Organizations that need a tailored payroll and HR experience—rather than a one-size-fits-all solution—may find our platform to be a better fit.
Checkwriters—a Reliable HR and Payroll Solution
Paycom, ADP, and Checkwriters each offer payroll and HR solutions, but their approaches vary. Paycom prioritizes automation and employee self-service, while ADP provides extensive features for organizations of all sizes. At Checkwriters, we stand out by offering dedicated support and a streamlined, intuitive system.
We simplify payroll and HR management without sacrificing essential features. Our user-friendly platform, compliance-focused approach, and personalized customer service make us a strong alternative for organizations seeking reliability and ease of use. Unlike larger providers, we deliver hands-on support without hidden costs or complex systems.
Get in touch with us today to see how we can simplify your payroll and HR processes.
Disclaimer: The information contained herein is not intended to be construed as legal advice, nor should it be relied on as such. Employers should closely monitor the rules and regulations specific to their jurisdiction(s) and should seek advice from counsel relative to their rights and responsibilities.